‘Each Baby Counts’ inquiry into reducing newborn deaths and brain injuries

An investigation led by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has found that one reason newborns are dying and sustaining brain injuries is a failure to monitor baby heart rates during labour properly.

The enquiry, named Each Baby Counts, looked into over 700 neonatal injuries and deaths, and found that in three quarters of the cases, a different outcome could have been reached had different care been received.

The report stated “Although the UK remains one of the safest places to give birth, serious incidents do occur, some of which could be prevented if different care were given.”

Although the report looked at 1,136 incidents, some local investigations were not thorough enough to enable a full assessment of what might have gone wrong.

In many of the cases that were able to be reviewed, issues with staff understanding, following through complex situations, interpreting heartrate patterns on CTG machines and making accurate assessments of foetal wellbeing during labour, were seen to be significant factors leading to the injuries and deaths.

Amongst the report’s recommendations were:

– Annual staff training in the interpretation of baby heart rate traces

– Supervision on the delivery suite at all times by a senior member of staff

– Parents to be kept informed of local reviews and to be invited to contribute

– Foetal monitoring assessments to be carried out on all low-risk women on admission.

Professor Zarko Alfirevic, co-principal investigator and consultant obstetrician at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, said “We urge everyone working in maternity care to ensure the report’s recommendations are followed at all times.”

President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Professor Lesley Regan, added “The fact that a quarter of reports are still of such poor quality that we are unable to draw conclusions about the quality of the care provided is unacceptable and must be improved as a matter of urgency.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s team of medical negligence lawyers have years of experience in high value and complex medical negligence compensation claims and have an excellent record. The team is led by Tony May, a specialist cerebral palsy and birth injury solicitor, who has over 20 years experience in handling cases in which babies have been brain damaged or sustained other injuries as a result of medical negligence.  He and his team continue to represent many cerebral palsy children and young adults in medical negligence claims.  Tony also acts as the Court of Protection Deputy for many of the cerebral palsy and brain damaged clients that he has represented, so we can continue to support you after your case is settled.  Tony can be contacted by email on tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk.  Alternatively, please call and speak to any of Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist medical negligence Legal Aid and no win-no fee solicitors for free legal advice on the freephone number below.

Freephone: 0800 304 7382

For further information, please see our cerebral palsy and birth injury website:

http://www.cerebralpalsyclaimssolicitors.co.uk